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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task

Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task

Published on: February 26, 2020

Bilingualism: research and policy.

Peggy McCardle¹

¹Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA.

New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development

|March 4, 2015

Summary

Bilingualism is common globally but unsupported in the US, often due to myths. Evidence shows benefits and drawbacks, necessitating informed, evidence-based policies and research in education.

Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Education Policy
Linguistics

Background:

Bilingualism is prevalent worldwide but faces resistance in the United States.
Current education policies on bilingualism are frequently based on misconceptions rather than scientific findings.
Existing research highlights both disadvantages and advantages of bilingualism.

Purpose of the Study:

To advocate for education policies and practices informed by scientific evidence on bilingualism.
To encourage the development of advanced research methodologies for studying bilingualism and brain plasticity.
To emphasize the need for evidence-based approaches in bilingual education.

Main Methods:

Review of existing scientific evidence on the cognitive effects of bilingualism.

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Analysis of current educational policies and their basis in fact versus myth.

Assertion of the need for integrative research into language acquisition and brain function.

Main Results:

Scientific evidence supports both positive and negative aspects of bilingualism.
Current US policies and practices often ignore or contradict this evidence.
Sufficient data exists to implement and study informed bilingual education strategies.

Conclusions:

Informed policies and practices regarding bilingualism should be adopted in US education.
Further research using complex approaches is needed to understand brain reorganization with language learning.
Implementing evidence-based practices and policies can benefit all children, making now a critical time for change.